I tried to write an article on this and even spoke with some of the bigger names in the industry. I really wanted to explore the question of competing interests. Big issues like habitat protection, private lands, public lands, overly enthusiastic focus on one specie to the detriment of another. I was curious how all of these groups worked together on the broad range of issues the world of hunting encompasses. Do they play nice or just fight for money and pet projects? I sent messages, made phone calls, and tried to dig deeper but ran out of time. In a sense I gave up on the project, I figured I wouldn't get a good answer and any article I wrote would just be a hot mess. So much of the data came from sources I couldn't independently verify so in the end I put the project aside.... It was like I had opened a can of worms and no one wanted to touch it....
My take out of my failed efforts was as follows.
For broad overall encompassing efforts:
B&C does a good job on a National Level
SCI is more focused on the International Level - But is a huge lobbying force....
At some point I will probably renew my SCI Membership as well mainly just due to their lobby efforts, not only nationally but internationally. They have a big stick
Specie Specific - I just chose my two favorite and stuck with those.
I love Mule Deer and the MDF seems to do a good job at both the National level and has active local chapters
I passionately pursued Dall Sheep in Alaska, so WSF and the local chapter made sense there.
Birds & Dogs
Here in WA I have grown to really enjoy hunting with my Pudelpointer. I joined the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, and participate in the local chapter as it makes me a better dog handler and its a great group of folks, as was the Alaska Yukon Chapter.
I like to get involved in the local stuff when I can. So I found the Washington Waterfowl Association and joined the local chapter. They have work days and actually are boots on the ground repairing, building blinds and working habitat projects.
I like DU because of the amount of information I can get from their website and the app and the magazine is worth the annual fee. The duck ID app is great! Pictures, specie info, and even proper specie specific sounds. My kids were amazed to learn that not all ducks quack. : ) Plenty of people have issues with DU, but I use them as an education tool more than anything.
If I was a hardcore bowhunter I would join the local Bowhunting group. I enjoyed the one in Alaska more because of the people than anything. I am more of an archer than a bowhunter, but respect the lobbying and efforts these groups do for bowhunters. Someone needs to help make sure they have a seat at the table.
There are lot of other species I really enjoy seeing, but can't join and keep track of memberships for all of them. As such my strategy was to join the B&C and support their all encompassing efforts, and then find one or two local groups I could get involved in. In reality the best thing we can do for hunting is to be good ambassadors for the sport, not attack each other, and introduce at least one new person to the sport a year.
Why the B&C? They support the 2A and they champion the North American model which is an all encompassing wildlife management program. I figured I could feel like I was helping all species vs. just my favorites, and they support "opportunity for all." I can't see how opportunity for all exists unless it includes public lands. So, pro Gun rights, fight for a broad range of species, and while not public land focused, they do champion opportunity for all so I figured they checked a lot of boxes on my passion list.
https://www.boone-crockett.org/about/positions_overview.asp?area=about&ID=6B455080&se=1
You can see their positions on the Left Side Banner list of options
It is a complex and frustrating thing to observe and sort through..... Gun Rights and Public Land issues are two hotbed issues. I am pro 2A and Public Lands, but it is hard to find (possibly impossible) to find groups that I am 100% aligned with... so I used the approach above. In NO way am I trying to convince you to join any of these groups, but I thought understanding why someone supports a specific group (and how they made that choice) is more helpful than why someone is against a particular group.
Just my take and worth exactly what you paid for it... : )